The Tinsley Team Standout Student of The Month: Kevin Klaymeh

Kevin Klaymeh didn’t expect a life-changing experience when he signed up for the Unified J-Term elective last spring at Westwood High School. In fact, it wasn’t even his first choice.
 
“Going into it, I just wanted to spend J-Term with my friends,” admitted Kevin, currently a senior at Westwood High. “What I didn’t really think about was the fact that I was going to make new friends and create opportunities for those who don’t have the same opportunities that I do.”
 
During Unified J-Term, Kevin and his classmates engaged in a variety of activities, including field trips, games, and team-building exercises.
 
“We spent a day learning and working on healthy exercise habits at Inclusive Fitness in Dedham that is specifically adapted for the Unified program,” said Kevin. “We also spent time watching movies, and played a bunch of yard games like Cornhole and catch. We did some team bonding activities like scavenger hunts to get us all outside the traditional classroom setting and trying new things.”
 
“Overall, I formed such amazing connections with everyone and it brightened my day to see others smile simply because I walked in the room, and knew their name,” Kevin continued.
 
That connection was so strong that on the last day of J-Term, despite having to miss class for his sister, Kristy Klaymeh’s eighth-grade graduation, Kevin made it a priority to return for a final farewell.
 
“After the graduation, I walked back inside the school,” Kevin reflected. “There was about 30 minutes left and I stayed with our class because I felt like I couldn’t go into the summer without saying a proper goodbye.”
 
 

Mike Tinsley interviews Kevin Klaymeh

 
Determined to keep that connection alive, Kevin collaborated with his math teacher, Ms. Monahan, to develop an ongoing program throughout the 2024-25 school year called Peers and Partners.
 
“Westwood High operates off a rotating block schedule, so every ‘Day 1’, we gather up a bunch of Unified kids – whoever wants to go – and we try to get some students to join us as we adventure off to the gym. We do all sorts of fun engaging activities from running games to knockout basketball, really anything the kids want to do.”
 
A recent highlight of Peers and Partners was a Unified vs. Staff kickball game, which exceeded all expectations.
 
“When we first began to plan the kickball game, we weren’t sure how many people were going to show up, and overall, we ended up with almost 100 people in that gym,” said Kevin. “It was honestly amazing! I was really excited for that day because I thought, ‘Wow, this is a really cool opportunity to play a competitive sport against a lot of my teachers while also including a lot of classmates to also be exposed to how amazing and unique all of Unified kids are. A big goal of mine was to connect more students to the Unified program and build new friendships for the kids outside of just me and the other students who were in the Unified J- term, and it just blew my mind how absolutely large it grew into. There were so many people – kids coming in from their anchor rooms to join in or watch. People were cheering for both teams, and it was awesome. That’s probably one of my favorite memories about being part of this program.”
 
Kevin acknowledged some of the stereotypes common amongst his peers when it comes to those who are ‘different’ from them.
 
“A lot of people think it’s not going to be fun to hang out with the Unified kids, like you’re just ‘babysitting’ them, but I find myself more engaged than anything,” shared Kevin. “I’ve learned that a lot of the kids in the Unified program are way more intelligent than people give them credit for. They have feelings, too, and it is really cool to see their emotions when they look at you and smile, simply because you’re smiling back at them. Just that little sense of acknowledgment through a high-five is enough to have a positive impact on their day and leave them with a smile contagious enough to spread around the entire room”
 
Kevin’s leadership and inclusivity extend beyond Unified – his journey as an athlete is equally inspiring. In middle school, a devastating accident left him uncertain if he would ever play sports again.
 
“I had a really bad accident in middle school resulting in a tibial fracture. Before my surgery I was told that I may never be able to walk again, but by a miracle I took my first steps only 3 months later. After working hard and persevering through adversity for months, I slowly built up my strength both physically and mentally. Going from not being able to take a step by myself to losing over 80 pounds and being more athletic, active, and healthy than I’ve ever been.”
 
Kevin went on to become a two-way starter for Westwood’s football team.
 
“I was an inside linebacker and right guard, number 51,” said Kevin. “We had an amazing season this past year – with the first back-to-back TVL Large titles since 2004. It was a great way to finish off my career at Flahive Field. It is truly a privilege to have been a key contributor to such a legacy.”
 
Kevin’s leadership doesn’t stop on the field.
 
“Other than football, I’m the leader of the Fitness Club at the school,” said Kevin. “We do a lot of fitness activities, and recently remodeled the entire Fitness Center with the help of our Wellness Teacher Mr. Costello, which is an amazing milestone that many didn’t think was possible, but we did it. I’m also in the Medical Club, and we’ve done some great work with the Red Cross gathering students to donate blood during our annual blood drive.”
 
As Kevin looks ahead to the future, he has his sights set on combining his passions for helping people and fitness.
 
“Right now, I’m still a little conflicted on what college I’m going to, but I know I want to major in either kinesiology or exercise and health sciences. My goal is to go to medical school and become a physician who specializes in sports medicine.”
 
Kevin Klaymeh’s dedication to inclusion, leadership both on and off the field, and commitment to making a positive impact on those around him no matter their background, make him a truly deserving recipient of our Tinsley Team Standout Student of the Month.
 
Congratulations, Kevin, for being this month’s Standout Student! Nominate a future Tinsley Team Standout Student of the Month by emailing Diana Bezdedeanu at dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com and if you’d like to give back to your community and sponsor a regular feature in Westwood Living, contact Tom Leyden at tleyden@bestversionmedia.com